Global billionaire wealth surged at three times its recent pace last year, reaching the highest level on record, according to Oxfam. The charity warned that the growing concentration of wealth is deepening economic and political divides that could undermine democratic systems.
In a report released ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Oxfam said billionaire fortunes rose 16 percent in 2025 to $18.3 trillion. The total increase since 2020 now stands at 81 percent, highlighting a sharp acceleration in wealth accumulation at the top.
The surge occurred as living conditions worsened for millions. Oxfam noted that one in four people worldwide struggle to eat regularly, while nearly half of the global population continues to live in poverty. The group said this contrast exposes a widening gap between economic growth and social well-being.
3K billionaires control $18.3 trillion, and this concentration of wealth is reshaping democracy itself. Billionaire money changes who gets heard, who decides, and who gets left behind.
Read the evidence: https://t.co/yNhJVW5KUR #RuleOfTheRich #FightInequality #TaxTheSuperRich pic.twitter.com/4nIGyBoPnp
— Oxfam International (@Oxfam) January 19, 2026The report draws on academic research and data from sources such as the World Inequality Database and Forbes’ rich list. Oxfam said extreme wealth now translates directly into political power, claiming billionaires are 4,000 times more likely than average citizens to hold political office.
Oxfam linked the recent rise in billionaire wealth to policy choices under Donald Trump’s second administration. The group cited tax cuts, reduced scrutiny of monopolies, and protection for multinational corporations as key drivers. Rapid gains in artificial intelligence company valuations also delivered major windfalls to already wealthy investors.
Billionaires’ wealth has risen sharply to a record high of $18.3 trillion — with the super-rich seeking power “for their own gain,” according to a report by the global charity Oxfam released Monday.
➡️ At the same time, poverty reduction has slowed, Oxfam said.
➡️ Billionaires… pic.twitter.com/wCFsxt5s1q
— CNBC International (@CNBCi) January 19, 2026Oxfam Executive Director Amitabh Behar warned that the growing gap between the rich and the rest of society creates a dangerous political imbalance. He said the trend risks long-term instability if governments fail to act.
The charity urged countries to adopt national plans to reduce inequality. Its recommendations include higher taxes on extreme wealth, stronger controls on lobbying, and tighter rules on campaign financing to limit the influence of money in politics.
Wealth taxes currently exist in only a few countries, including Norway. However, governments in Britain, France, and Italy have debated similar measures in recent years as public concern over inequality grows.
Oxfam estimates that the $2.5 trillion added to billionaire fortunes last year roughly equals the total wealth held by the poorest 4.1 billion people combined. The number of billionaires worldwide also exceeded 3,000 for the first time.
The report highlighted Elon Musk, chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, as the first individual to surpass a net worth of $500 billion.
Oxfam also raised alarm over the expanding influence of billionaires in global media. It said ultra-wealthy individuals now own more than half of the world’s major media outlets. The group cited holdings by Jeff Bezos, Musk, Patrick Soon‑Shiong, and French media tycoon Vincent Bolloré as examples of this growing concentration of influence.
